Quotes from Morihei Ueshiba

Aikido is love. It is the path that brings our heart into oneness with the spirit of the universe to complete our mission in life by instilling in us a love and reverence for all of nature.

There are no contests in the Art of Peace. A true warrior is invincible because he or she contests with nothing. Defeat means to defeat the mind of contention that we harbor within.

The Art of Peace begins with you.

Master the divine techniques of the Art of Peace and no enemy will dare to challenge you.

To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.

The divine is not something high above us. It is in heaven, it is in earth, it is inside us.

One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.

Be grateful even for hardship, setbacks, and bad people. Dealing with such obstacles is an essential part of training in the Art of Peace.

INSTRUCTORS CAN impart a fraction of the teaching. It is through your own devoted practice that the mysteries of the Art of Peace are brought to life.

The Art of Peace is based on four Great Virtues: Bravery, Wisdom, Love, and Friendship, symbolized by Fire, Heaven, Earth, and Water.

WHEN YOU BOW deeply to the universe, it bows back; when you call out the name of God, it echoes inside you.

Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead.

In extreme situations, the entire universe becomes our foe; at such critical times, unity of mind and technique is essential - do not let your heart waver!

As soon as you concern yourself with the 'good' and 'bad' of your fellows, you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter. Testing, competing with, and criticizing others weaken and defeat you.

Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything.

THE ART OF PEACE is the religion that is not a religion; it perfects and completes all religions.

Life itself is always a trial. In training, you must test and polish yourself in order to face the great challenges of life.

The art of Peace I practice has room for each of the world's eight million gods, and I cooperate with them all. The God of Peace is very great and enjoins all that is divine and enlightened in every land.

The Samurai is the first to suffer anxiety for human society, and he is the last to seek personal pleasure.

If you are centered, you can move freely.

Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing. Bravely face whatever the gods offer.

Economy is the basis of society. When the economy is stable, society develops. The ideal economy combines the spiritual and the material, and the best commodities to trade in are sincerity and love.

Now and again, it is necessary to seclude yourself among deep mountain and hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of life.

Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment.